Best business laptops - June 2011

For many people, a business laptop can be practically any laptop as long as its reasonably fast and has enough ports. However, bona fide business laptops have a lot more to them than typical mainstream laptops. For starters, many are built to a much higher standard using magnesium alloy or another type of strong and light metal; many also have much better security and manageability features that IT departments simply can not do without.

Business laptops are generally a lot more expensive than mainstream laptops, and new models are usually released at the same price point and previous models. As with mainstream models, there are business models to suit any type of user, be it the engineer or designer who requires the grunt of a mobile workstation, the executive who requires something thin and light, and the business owner who wants a solid, all-round 15-incher.

In this roundup we are highlighting some of the best business laptops to come through our Test Centre in 2011. Almost all use Intel's Second Generation Core CPUs, and those that don't use the first generation Core, which shows you just how strong Intel's hold is on the business market. Do note that we're still waiting to see any of HP's business offerings for 2011.

This is a great ultraportable laptop for the business user who wants something very light and strong, but with good performance and a built-in optical drive. It's what we like to call a no-compromise ultraportable, in that it has everything a larger laptop has, but in a smaller and lighter form factor.

This is a mobile workstation with lots of grunt under the hood and plenty of connectivity around the edges. It's designed for designers and engineers who need to take lots of CPU and graphics grunt with them on the road.

Mac users will love the new MacBook Pro, which now comes with Intel's Second Generation Core CPU. It's fast, it's sturdy, but it's also a little pricey. It's good for graphics designers and people who work with video and music.

The Samsung Series 9 has strong build quality, a sleek design and many great features that make it comfortable to use. It's high price tag definitely makes it a luxury item, but if you want excellent mobility and usability in the same package, it's hard to beat.

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

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